May 15, 2012 Bergen Visiting Danielson School

A quick walk on cobblestone, past the harbor, up the hill beyond McDonald’s and the old church, brings us to Danielsen Skole in Bergen, Norway.  Astrid Haugestad, who teaches English and economics, hosted our Concordia group for the fourth time.  The friendship we have made is a treasure.  We joined her students in English talking about government structure in the UK.  But, understandably, today the 8:30 class kept their eyes on the clock!  At 9:00 came the announcement of who would take the National Exam and in which subject—English or math.  A student next to me explained that the selection is random.  There were cheers galore, as only three students need to sit for the exam.  Astrid, ever mindful of all the students’ emotions, suggested that perhaps cheering so happily wasn’t quit fair for the three boys whose names were drawn for the exam.  The test is of individual student achievement and also of school success.  Scores will be used comparatively across the country.  There will be a full study day for those writing the exam and then the test in about, as I understood it, a week and a half.

Astrid and I took time for a quick coffee while Concordia students and Danielsen students mingled and talked freely.  The chats were fun on both sides.  I like the experience for Concordia students to interact with Norwegian adolescents and Atrid likes it for Danielsen students’ practice in conversational English.  A win-win.

After the break our group joined Veslemøy Steensnæs Omenaas’s English class.  Veslemoy teaches English, social studies and Spanish.  Her students were working for a second day on a short story by a New Zealander Maori writer, “Butterflies.” Concordia students worked in groups with Danielsen students to discuss the story with a focus on multiculturalism and perspective.

Then to the faculty room for lunch.  Astrid’s good, good friend, the school custodian, for the second year in a row made our lunch.  This year we were treated to rommegrot (holiday porridge).  The teachers in the room told us they were jealous and had to wait for May 17^th for this Norwegian treat.  We shared a little with them!!

Astrid and I have had a chance over these four years to make a friendship that respects our professional commitments and family lives.  Students were able to ask Norwegian high school kids about russ and their plans after graduation.  David took marvelous pictures, as you can see!  A good morning at a private Christian high school with connections to Hillcrest Academy in Fergus Falls and Concordia College.

Astrid has been our host teacher at Danielson School for four May Seminars.  This is an English class for first year high school students - they start English early in grade school and now are studying the countries that speak English as their primary language.  Astrid always has our students join hers in discussing the lesson, but it's best when their interactions move beyond the lesson and into the culture comparisons.  Our students always appreciate this visit.

Laure, Joni, Nicole, & Kairsten with Danielsen students.

Moriah talking with Bruno - he's an Italian from Chile who has lived in Norway for several years.

Kairsten and Nicole talking with students.

Kristin with a student.

Paige making a point.

Danielsen School is the five floors in a downtown building that has an open atrium in the center.  Classroom are on each floor.  The students in the red overalls are graduating seniors partaking in an old ritual/coming of age practice called russ.  They wear the overalls for the entire month of May, not taking them off. They participate in many types of outlandish behavior and pranks.  They have cords in which they get to tie a knot each time they participate in some russ activity.  Here's the Wiki description of russ and here's another take.

Joni with a student.

Danielle and students.

Laura and students.

Eating lunch in the school teacher's lounge - great rommegrot.

A bunch of russ students stromed the teachers lounge to sing a song for everyone - some russ stuff is very nice.

Joni, Laura, and Nicole going down the spiral staircase in the atrium.

A park in teh center of Bergen.

The Museum of Decorative Art (or Art & Design), has a fantastic collection of ancient Chinese artifacts. This dates from about 800AD.

A variety of Chinese Buddha statues.

Three-Eyed Buddha

Bronze

Ancient Chinese Scholar's Desk

Small shoes worn by Chinese women back when they bound girls' feet to keep their feet abnormally small.

Plate in the Decorative Art Section

Vase in the Decorative Art Section

A display of tankards in a museum window.

This is one of the oldest violins in Europe.  It belonged to Ole Bull, who was one of Norway's most important musicians. With his Norwegian musical compositions, he helped establish that Norway had a cultural identity all their own and should be an independent nation.

A large table had settings from different time perionds of important people in Norway's history.  This is from Anne Pedersdotter time, about 1590.

Edvard Grieg, the great Norwegian composer, circa 1900.

Dorothe Engelbrektsdatter, cica 1700.

Paige taking a break on a "lips couch."

Warhorse DVD for about $22.00.

Convers and converse typ tennis shoes are big in Norway.

Side street with some constructions.

The park in central Bergen.

More of the park.

The train car at middle left takes people to a the top of a mountain and a gorgeous scenic overview of Bergen.  The tracks are so steep that the seats in the train are at about a 30 degree angle so you sit upright.

Homes on the mountainside beyond the park.

Remains of an umbrella which was annihilated by the high winds on Sunday.

A gazebo in front of an office building at the west end of the park.

Kids relaxing on a sculpture in the park. (behind and to the right is the Museum of Decorative Art.

Tons of flowers were blooming for the upcoming Syttende Mai celebration (their 4th of July).

Statue of Ole Bull with a water nymph playing an ode to him.

M any tourist shops here have Christmas sections.  Not a bad idea considering many Norwegian-Americans celebrate their Norwegian heritage most around Christmas.

Trolls are everywhere.

This is one of the tourist shops along our street.  These are in very old three and four story buildings.  Notice how cattywampus the door is. 

No parking here.

Between the buildings housing the tourist shops are narrow passageways back to the next street.  Most have huge beams of old, old, wood supporting them, but here's a rather stylish and modern stairway to a fish restaurant.

Not many American cars or tucks here, especially antiques like this.

Most cars are small, but not this small.  Smart Cars are more common here than in the US.

There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold and she's buying a stairway to heaven  (Led Zeppelin reference).  This is a stairway between buildings. 

Boat that is being refinished in the harbor.

Boats in the harbor.  The white building on the left is Peppe's Pizza.